THE WRITINGS OP M. FABKE. 127 



destined for the larvae. After proceeding for a distance of two or 

 three inches, this corridor takes an abrupt curve, and tends for a cor- 

 responding depth more or less obliquely downwards, terminating in 

 an oval cell, placed horizontally. Tlie sides of this cell have not been 

 in any way cemented or plastered together : but it is easy to perceive 

 that they have been fashioned with peculiar care, and the sand dili- 

 gently smoothed and planed down, so that the tender grub shall incur 

 no danger from the crumbling of its prison walls. On the completion of 

 one of these little chambers, it has to be provisioned: and then the Sphex, 

 closing it up, proceeds to hollow out another of the same dimensions 

 alongside it. This process she repeats twice or thrice before finally 

 filling up the entrance to her subterraneous nursery, and effacing all 

 outward trace of its existence by smoothing and patting down the 

 outside sand. There are thus three, sometimes four cells connected 

 with each corridor : and as the number of eggs laid by every female 

 Sphex is about thirty, it follows that from seven to ten galleries are 

 required by each. 



And as the energetic little insect has finished her labours before 

 the end of September, it is evident that only two or three days can 

 be devoted to the excavation of a gallery, to the task of furnishing 

 the separate cells Avith provisions, laying an egg in each, closing the 

 door, and in fact winding up the whole establishment. If we con- 

 sider from how great a distance the Sphex often has to bring the 

 captives of her bow and spear, and also how often rainy days must 

 intervene to prevent her from following the chase, it is easy to see 

 that she must toil hard to make the best of her time, and cannot 

 pretend to give to her nest that solidity and finish which charac- 

 terize the abode of the young Cercerides. For the nest of the 

 Cerceris is the work of years, transmitted from one generation to 

 another, added to and improved by each ; while that of the Sphex 

 resembles a tent, pitched hastily by the belated traveller, and in- 

 tended only to serve as shelter for a single night. A slight varia- 

 tion is observable in the excavations of Sphex alhisecta and the 

 Ammopliila ; they dispense altogether with the horizontal corridor, 

 digging merely a vertical passage, two or three inches in depth, con- 

 nected with a single ceU. Pursuing their labom'S apart from each 

 other, they have obtained the name of " Solitary wasps." 



Let us now, in company with M. Fabre, watch for the return 

 of a Sphex flavipennis to her nest ; she carries her booty, a grass- 

 hopper many degrees heavier than herself Alighting at some dis- 

 tance from her nest, she proceeds to drag her victim along with her 

 powerful mandibles. After much exertion on her part, he is placed 

 in such a position as to touch the door of his future prison with the 

 ends of his antennae. The Sphex then relinquishes her hold, descends 

 into her nest, and immediately reappearing, seizes her prey, 

 according to M. Fabre, with a little joyful cry, and drags him down 

 into the cell prepared to receive him. Other Hpnenoptera dispense 

 with this preliminary visit to the interior of their strongholds ; the 



